ULTRA-OPTIMISTIC City supporters can get very generous odds on the Sky Blues racking up six goals tomorrow.

But defender Michael Johnson says that there is no chance of the Rams suffering a collapse on the scale of January's 6-1 defeat at the Ricoh Arena and their 6-2 reverse at Highfield Road in April 2005.

Johnson is one of only three players from last season's visit who is likely to turn out tomorrow - Seth Johnson and City old boy Marc Edworthy are the others - and he insisted: "It's will be a very different game this time.

"Our away record is up there with the best in the division and we feel we can go there and give a good account of ourselves especially coming on the back of the win against West Brom.

"We've got a completely different team. If you compare the team now to how the one in the last two seasons, it's virtually unrecognisable."

Johnson's confidence is backed up by the resilience that Derby have shown under Billy Davies this season.

No side in the Championship have collected more points from losing positions - like Barnsley they have managed to to chalk up three wins (against Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion) and two draws (Southampton and Cardiff City) after falling behind.

As well as Edworthy, City will be lining up against two more familiar faces tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater is now signed on at Pride Park after proving his potential during a 14-game stint with the Sky Blues at the start of the 2005/06 season while Dean Leacock, who had a couple of loan spells at Coventry in 2004/05, is also a defensive regular.

In midfield, exciting home-produced teenager Giles Barnes is grabbing the limelight along with Italian prospect Arturo Lupoli - not yet deemed ready for Arsenal's all-star line-up but a thrilling performer at this level.

Lupoli is joint leading scorer with Steve Howard - a £1 million summer signing from Luton Town- on six apiece.

However, the manager has hinted that the pacy, intelligent striker could be due a rest, leaving Ryan Smith and Jon Stead on standby in a fluid 4-3-3 line-up on the attack that takes on a 4-5-1 look when defending.

Richard Jackson is favourite to fill in for suspended left-back Mo Camara.